A Little Something

Some days, we find the perfect scene to make a picture, but it's missing that special something that completes the frame.

A cold fog rolled in and blanketed the city Monday, and Rick Hartford gave me the idea to head down to the Riverfront at Charter Oak Landing to see if I could make an enterprise picture out of it.

When I arrived, I found the perfect scene - bare willows, a soft view of the water, and a thick fog. The sun came through the clouds like a softbox, giving things an even, eerie illumination. The only thing that was was missing was a subject.

I hung around for a good 45 minutes, walking back and forth on the path. The gulls were my only company, crying and swooping between the walking path and the water. Not one soul in sight.

I left feeling defeated, but glad to know where to head on the next foggy day. Thanks, Rick, for sharing the idea.

Pro Tip: A focal point is what sets boring landscapes apart from stunning scenes. Look for that extra component to make the photograph. It doesn't always have to walk on two feet.

Backside of the gull shot on a Nikon D300, 400 ISO, 1/3200 of a sec at f2.8 on a 70-200 at 110mm.

Other two pictures shot with a Nikon D300s, ISO 250, 1/640th of a sec at F4 on a 17-55 at 55mm.